Final Frontiers 2011
General Guidelines

    All participants should periodically check the website for rule changes and clarifications.

    All teachers/sponsors/parents are strongly advised to allow the students to do their own work both in the planning and building stages of preparation.  However, teachers/sponsors/parents are urged to help the students in reading the rules to explain details and in monitoring safety during construction.  Hand tools are sufficient for all events.

    Final Frontiers event rules are written in a short and concise form in order to encourage students of all grade levels and abilities to get involved.  As a result, specificity has had to be sacrificed.

    If a word or phrase may be open to interpretation, students should interpret the word or phrase in its most common interpretation.    Students should construct their devices to meet any interpretation of the rules by the judges during the competition.

    Remember that during the competition the judges of that event will interpret the rules in order to make the event a fair and equal competition for the entrants.

   If you choose to interpret a word in a specific way that gives you a great advantage over other competitors your device will be placed into a special category.

**  Any sponsor may contact the Event Judge (listed at the bottom of the rules) by phone or e-mail to get advice on interpreting a word or phrase, but the judges' interpretation at the competition will be final.

• In Montgomery County, each school may have only one entry per event per division (unless the rules for a particular event state otherwise). Schools must determine prior to the competition which device they will enter.
• In Prince George's County, a school may bring 2 entries per division, per event.
• Any number of students may work on the construction of a device but the number of students that present the device in the competition area may be limited by the judges.
• The five main events should be prepared prior to the competition.
• A 'mystery event' will be held on site with materials supplied by the judges.
• For safety, no electrical or heavy tools will be allowed at the competitions, only simple hand tools (eg.wrench, screwdriver, scissors, etc.).
• Teams will compete in four divisions:  Grade 5, Grades 6-7, Grades 8-9, Grades 10-12, unless otherwise stated in event rules. (See Newton's Nightmare and Mystery Event.)

   An informational meeting will be held on TUESDAY October 18 for Montgomery County (NOTE THE NEW DATE!) and on September 28 for Prince George's County to discuss the rules and their interpretation. Everyone is welcome! The Montgomery County meeting will be at Wootton High School, Media Center, from 4:30-6:00 pm.  The Prince George's County meeting will be at Robert Goddard French Immersion School, Room 219, from 4:00-5:00 pm and from 5:00-6:00 pm.

    All coaches must provide the name of the school and coach with telephone numbers by e-mail to: 
Michael_U_Thompson@mcpsmd.org (Wootton High School)

Also remember to check our Web site for rules, changes and additions.
  http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/woottonhs/academics/science/finalfront/
 
 

Aero Car |  Micro Mass Tower  | Golf Ball Barrage  | Lunar Bridge |  Newton's Nightmare | Mystery Event

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